Biden meeting with top lawmakers to talk aid for Ukraine and Israel

The White House announced on Tuesday, Jan. 16, that President Biden will meet with top lawmakers to push for more aid to Ukraine and Israel, efforts that have stalled in Congress. According to ABC News reporting, on Wednesday, Jan. 17, Biden will meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to find a path forward and get more funding passed.

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Biden requested $106 billion in funding for Ukraine and Israel to be passed in October, but negotiations in Congress came grinding to a halt as Republicans set a hard line on immigration reform, demanding it be tied in with any additional funding to Ukraine.

Negotiations have been ongoing for months with seemingly no progress as Republicans want stricter border enforcement as migrants flood the southern border, but according to the White House, those talks are now moving in the right direction. Still, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said it’s time for Congress to act.

“You know, this is about securing our border,” Jean-Pierre said. “This is about our national security and the consequences of congressional inaction would be severe. So, the president is going to have this all-important conversation.”

Lack of funding has been a thorn in Ukraine’s side in its fight against Russian invaders of late, with the Biden administration saying it is quickly running out of funding to provide aid to Ukraine. It has been over a year since Congress approved major funding for Ukraine.